Combined fuel filter and regulator and cutoff device



Aug. 17, 1943.

J. G. KosKY Erm. 2,327,195

COMBINED FUEL FILTER ND REGULATR AND CUTOFF DEVICE Filed July 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l .f 131 82K? 61o Zinnen or :i g1. mm1 t Allg- 17, 1943. J, s. KosKY ETAL GGMBINED FUEL FILTER AND REGULATOR AND CUTOFF DEVICE Filed July 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet :2`

Blwcnior i M- Mw ITMl-llgkm Gtornegs Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UN'rTEo l ecm/Eemian Fufummun'xxnnueom'ro monitore Device y ,Y mgl', St LBLISQVMO., lassigxmizs. Y

Slt'. :Louis Mo? a (corporation to American fs claims. (oi. iss-#wlYV Tho'vequimments miv perfomzance ami safety inrespect twgas romeinse heeft each; yearinscrmlngr anzu becoming momf'dzastlcg. and Vtozxaev' trie mneineationsfand :istituireimams` in mamy iba- Y ss= arei suele aas to2 requise. automatic ignition. not om? fonJ thefcookilrg top bm'ners'laiitaisc thmowm met broiler humus for gas 'Imis nceanstliabfin: respect: tof semzeliranges. as mamy 'constant bunningzepoi: lights aref rd as' for' instance woutdtbe respect; coa iviioufcooking topi sangefwhiaclxhae scimmie broiler andi baking: mensa. In a; range ocr-utilis;A type a, censtamt burma@ plint'vsottil:lareV required burumsroiewoei comasco@ aziatisch cooking topi: at me' range more constant burning pilot would be xelillillecl ortfe' foutue bln-wer in 'the hsldng om Y Y yElltoult clbgoigrot alixr-1 ci' tixse11ilol'lg-aslines oecmrwlfki shoulda msnm-'ini @transiting :af-pilot* Hamm or mail? so asi to: so :arrednce the'si'ze of the wlottilamf aszto iremderth plint ihopemtvmnot emigrare there' servieemnmllintsbwi in' Witt be obvimsthat a dem-e gerous situation is creasedrin malexpiosons or aspisycmtion cam easily resort dus: te the. escape ofzmiw` ur'mmed gas ffrom tlat'bm'nel" orthese bumeus: which are. not bdrm Servei by ai pitot im due to its' eirclzlrnY Y l Consequentlylthe prtmsiim ot Yo construction in which the possibility cil theoioegirfe oet the pllobbnmzmt msi. lines ismenmtekifoi' vecyi consideiralerinmosltamzez;Y c n The: initierschietV or ille present -isvserrtioriY is thereieoe the pmovlsimi of armes ltelt'ngr devicef whichtgredaicee tothe rmhmum'the pussiloilitglrA of the faillite oli the! pilot light' bumers by reason4 o! reresezice oftueldeiiveryto che pilot light dueto' clogging:

hr. respectilio constant homing pilot lights't" is esntialf that provision beI mariee tu'V regulate' the: :Elow off gassin* ketlzier tuer to them in, orcierftov regulatefthe of. thea flame which they butaca.V Iizfwilbezobcious that :sagmal-,haci this chiamato#VV teore usedffor obtaining and:A providing for pl'ot llame regulation halve been either ofthe :zo-called slug vtyperen the so-callect niee,cle"A valve type. In respect to botlm types Iof valves regulation 'of the pilot 'ame is obtained" by' rfeguiating the ow of fuel through' au orifice Whiehwiderr wide open is'extremely minute in size and which when the valilfeY isd brought intoY play has itsY size reduced eisers iurthee.' i311 respebtto aineedie type of valve eteewenieigiie mote' on less: annular im shame valve s more I l l anfwe have found that this: of subiect tol clogging tivzii'iv is the soecalled type.v

VVBy!" realism ofthe1 foregoing the heretofore Vmentioned umllesiseilraleb cloggingV which has resutedfin the nowfof fuelV toe.J cousmnt bumlns pilot light has occurred in the'majocity of instances in the valve which is Vpiosvllizri for. controlling the ow'of fuel to the pilot light and the" size el* the pilot light flame.

orar; conveniently adustable control means: toetst-:ming the flow' of fuel' to the" pilot ligictarid the size ot the flame of' the pilot light isfessentiaifF and equally essential is the provision oat c: valve toi" completely stopping the flow oi feel. tothe piiot light'because' the public demands a; convexsieut mesmo by which all new of fuel to ther-pilot: light can be stopped so" as to eect a,Y saving' of mei when the stove or range is not to El be' used: overa long period, as for instance when the; occupants of a house`A leavev for an extended vlammen: or the home is vacant over a: long period fonisome other reason. l

present invention hesl therefore as an'- othcr ceecti the provision of a, fuel filtering means in combliietlon with a fuell cut-ofi valve which is such as to reduce to the minimum the possibility of clogging at that point in the fuel line to the pilot light Where a Vminute fuel pasmsagewssy isv under the control of a. fuel cut-off tera ie essential mi' reduce to' Vtheirminimum the 45 met expense item to the inmittenoncev o a, coi'istzeurtV burner' sind; tha'i'reduction 'in cost oiopemtrois' ts ou very materiali importance when theiis equipped with as many as four'ctm-V stant beaming; pilot lights.J f

The-Pogulatibmo tlnesiae uftlxe' flame burned by a oonstasatbnmg' piioclight is nownow'but has almost always been provided'. in; connection wim .it aanstaat buminaplllnt liebte 'tlrer vulves in moet. cases here? 55 J vaive. A

n the conception and provision of a device having theiforegoing objects in mindV other speccobjrects audrnovel features of construction areV attained and built into the invention and the nature of these as well as the objectionable features of devices now in use will appear and beis'peeically pointed out in the following de- WScript-.ionn when Vread in the light o the accompanting drawings.

In thedxawings which are illustrative of the inventive concept and its manner of application.y towaneesof ierent characters,

Fis. l lo ,aK vertical sectional View through a combined fuel filter and regulator built in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view illustratingthe ltering and regulating portion. of 'the device. Y' Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail View manner in which the ltering material is inserted in and Wrapped about the spring.

Fig, 5 is a vertical sectional view of a still further modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken at YrightY angles to Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional viewthrough a modified form of the invention showing a dual assembly.

Fig. '7a is a vertical sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. '7 of the drawings and on the line 'la-1a thereof.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a range having only one pilot light.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a range utilizing two pilot lights.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a range having four pilot light burners.

It is well known that in some localities gas ranges are operated on manufactured gas while in other localities natural gas is used. Most manufactured gases contain what is commonly referred to as gum and lt is this material or substance that to the greatest degree causes the undesirable clogging heretofore referred to. Corrosion can likewise cause the clogging, and tn some instances no doubt does, and this corrosion is in all probabilities brought about by the sulphur compounds which are found in some manufactured gases. However, today these compounds are being to a major degree more efciently removed from the gas by the gas manufacturing companies. The gum constituent Vis quite costly of removal due to the equipment necessary to its elimination and even today these gum constituents are prevalent in manufactured gases; Actually there are two kinds of gumiiiV one is commonly referred to or known as the liquid phase and the other as the vapor phase. The liquid phase gum constitutes the less hazard from the clogging standpoint but the vapor phase often constitutes a combination of many chemical compounds produced during the gas manufacturing operation. This vapor gum consistsof fine particles which will collect on Vor in aminute opening or orifice and particularlyso where or when a large pressure drop occurs, and it is 55 our belief that this is the reason thatY needle type valves clog more readily and quickly than do the plug type valves.

We have found that with the needle type valve and with some manufactured gases clogging will 60 likely to occur if the piping system or gas mains have originally been used to furnish manufactured gas,

From the foregoing it will be seen that both gum and dust may be and are commonly present in manufactured gas and the distributing systems therefor but that. dust only ordinarily present in natural gases. Y

In many cities and localities a mixture of natural and manufactured gas is distributed to gas range users. YIt is generally recognized that the clogging heretofore described as objectionable is brought about by either gum or dust or the combination of the two and this fact makes clear the need of a device capable of performing the objects and improved results of the present invention.

We recognize that prior to our invention the idea of a filtering device was not new but such devices were and are unlike our own and particularly so as to the use of the particular material utilized as a ltering element. These prior deY vices have used as filtering elements such mate-Y rial as mineral wool which is also known as rock wool, but we Vhave found this material to be soY fragile and brittle as not to be serviceable orV eiiicient and to lack resiliency which is an important attribute to a device of the present xiature as will hereinafter more clearly appear. Additionally devices Such as our own are in many instances installed on gas ranges in a location or position which subjects them to heat the temperatures of which. reach heights too great to YbeV withstood by material such as cotton or felt which in some prior devices has been utilized as a filtering element.

Prior devices have further been undesirable in that the filters are to serve as means for completely cutting oil the supply of fuel to the pilot lights but in this capacity the devices have proven not only unsatisfactory but eventually have failed entirely to operate to completely cut olf the fuel supply to the pilot lights. In our device a Separate cut-ofi valve is provided as will hereinafter more clearly appear.

Having outlined in a general way the objects and advantages of the invention specic description of the invention will now be made by reference to the accompanying drawings in Awhich similar parts are designated by like characters occur within a day or two whereas with other Y and differently manufactured gases which contain less gum clogging does not Voccur until a greater passage of time just as ordinarily a larger time interval is required for the clogging of the plus type valve.

We have additionally found thatY some gases contain what is commonly referred to as "dust which we believe to be largely iron rust although it could be som@ various other particles that are commonly found and that are present in the gas mains and are carried therethrough by the flow of gas in the mains.

This dust will cause clogging and is most prevand reference-numerals.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, A designates a metallic, preferably brass or bronze, fitting which is substantially ofY an L-shape in cross sectional conguration with the pair of arms making up the fitting being designated as I and 2 respectively. The arm 2 is the inlet of the fitting and is provided with a chamber 3 having an inlet passageway 4 whichV extends through the exteriorly threaded end 5 of the arm which end is adapted for connection with the pine or conduit through which the fuel is supplied for the constant burning pilot light. The chamber 3 is closed at'one end by a screw plug 6 Within which is threadedly mounted a set-screw l which at its inner end within the chamber 3 is provided with a plunger head 8 which is of a diameter or size to loosely t the interior bore of the chamber. At its outer end the set-screw is provided with a squared head il to provide an adjusting means and a lock nut HJ is provided for securing the set-screw and plunger in its set and adjusted position.

A coil spring H having a smaller diameter than alently encountered with natural gas and is more the interior bore of the chamber 3 is'positloned flame-at the pilotl light when the glass wool-is under no compression. The average pilot name is ordinarily adjusted to burn between 10.0 to 156 B. t. u. per hour.

Ordinarily the degree at which the filtering element is compressed is set by whoever installed the range but it will be seen that thereafter adjustment of the pilot name as may be required can be quickly and readily obtained either by the range user or by a service man by merely altering the setting of the set-screw 8 and its plunger head E. Those skilled in this art will recognize that it is not feasible or practical'to attempt to obtain the fine or cicse control of fuel which is necessary by attempting to do so byA partially closing the main shut-off plug valve B.

Change in the setting ofthe flow of fuel to the pilot light will unquestionably be periodically necessary to the best and highest eiciency and it is here that the inherent resilient nature and d lack of brittleness of the glass wool is of great and material importance and advantage. Repeated compression and expansion of this material can be safely had and its resiliency in comination with that of the coil spring will assure that the filtering material will follow the plunger head as it is retracted from a compressing position and will result in the immediate passage of more fuel through the filter which has been found not to be the case in respect to other filtering materials such as have heretofore been used and are found in devices as heretofore made.

The device likewise provides means to permit convenient and easy total cut-off of fuel delivery to the pilot light in the event this is found desirable such as when a home is to be vacated for a considerable period of time. This cut-oli' is obtained by merely turning the rotary plug valve B and assures a complete saving in respect to fuel under those conditions where a range is not to be used for a long period of time. The device is not intended to operate in a manner whereby compression of the filtering material is attempted to be made to a degree to completely shut oil? the flow of fuel to the pilot light. As stated, separate means comprising the rotary plug valve is provided for such a complete cut-off of fuel and by this provision the fuel can be completely cut olf aS desired without in any way changing the adjustment which has been made of the flow of fuel through the filter. Thus when the fuel flow is cut eff from time Y'ro time by the plug valve readjustment of the filter is unnecessary when the range is put back into service or use.

The fiow of fuel around the plate I2 is obtained due to the fact that its side edge or wall is serrated or notched.

With the understanding that the hereinbefore described objects and attributes are present in the modified forms of the invention, description of them will now be given but duplication of description will be avoided where' possible by applying like reference numerals to those parts which are similar to those in the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings illustrate a double form of the invention which is Suitable for use on a range having two constant burning pilot lights, as for instance a pilot light for the cooking top burners and a pilot light for the range oven burner. Figure 9 of the drawings diagrammatically illustrates such an application of the device and will be referred to in conjunction with the following description of the device as illustratedin Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings.

ascuas YIn vthis modled form of the invention the' fitting is designated as an entirety at C'and in cross sectional configuration is'of a T-shape, the stem Vof the T is designated at 23 and is provided with' a chamber 29 identical to the before-.described chamber 3 and within which is the coil spring l i between the plate l2 and the plunger 8'. There is the identical filtering element I3 and the same setting screw? which is rotatable within the threaded plug 8 and is provided with the lock nut I0. The outer end of the leg 2B oi the T is externally threaded as at 3l! for attachment to the main gas manifold 21 (see Figure 9 of the drawings) so that fuel will now into the chamber through the inlet l.

In this'instance the fuel receiving chamber 29 serves two constantV burning pilot lights to which gas is conveyed by suitable conduits 3i and 32 which extend outwardly from the two parts 33 and 34 respectively of the fitting and which constitute the head of the T. These fitting parts Vor legs 33 and 3l are provided with outlets 35 and 36 respectively which communicate with the charnber 29 at opposite sides thereof. In each oi' the passageways through the parts 33 and 3l there is a Vmanually operable rotatable plug valve B similar to that heretofore described and which constitute meansrby which the flow of fuel to either or both of the pilot lights being served can be completely and conveniently cut off.

The operation of this form of the invention is identical to the preferred form previously described relative to the filtration or cleaning of the fuel and relative to the adjustment of compression `of the filtering element to control the size of the pilot light flames.

In Figure 9 of the drawings we have illustrated a manner of application of this device to a range having two pilot light burners. It will be seen that a pipe 31 connects the inlet ll of the device to the main fuel manifold 21 from which it receives the fuel intended for the pilot burners. The outlet pipe 3i goes to the cooking top burner pilot light 25 while the outlet pipe 32 is carried to a pilot light (not shown) which services the baking burner of the range.

A still further modification of the invention is illustrated in Figures 6 and l of the drawings and like the device illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings this particular form of the invention is intended to be utilized where a pair of pilot lights are being supplied with fuel. It differs however from the Figure form of the invention in that individual, rather than dual, filtration and regulation is provided for each of the pilot burners which it serves, as will now appear from the following description.

In this instance the device is designated as constituting a fitting or member D which has a solid base 38 provided with an elongated inlet passageway 39 to which fuel is brought from the main supply manifold 21 by a conduit 40a which is preferably though not necessarily threadedly attached to the fitting base. The fitting extends upwardly from its base and is provided with a pair of chambers 4B and 4I which are disposed in parallelism and are identical to the chamber 3 of the preferred or single form of the device illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings. Within each of these chambers is the plunger head B adjustable externally of the fitting by the set-screw 1. Likewise there is the same perforated plate I2, coil spring ll and glass wool filtering material and element i3 completely covering the coil flow of fuel through said conduit, a combined fuel lter and fuel ow controller comprising, an elongated coil spring adapted to loosely lit within said conduit, an elongated core of bre glass composed of a plurality of elongated individual threads disposed in substantial parallelism to one another, one end of said core being positioned within said spring adjacent one end of the spring and extending throughout the interior length of the Spring and completely filling the same, said core then extending transverse the opposite end of the spring and, along one side of the exterior of said spring and covering a portion of said spring exterior, said core then extending across and covering the opposite end oi said spring and dovvn the opposite exterior side of said spring and covering the remaining portion of the exterior of said spring, the core end then overlapping the second named en d of said spring, said core on the exterior of said spring being of a thickness to completely fill the space I'Jetween ilie exterior face of the spring and the conduit with which it is used, and means operable fron:V a point exterior of the conduit i'oi' compressing` said spring for varying the cmnpactness of iinl coro.

4. A construction sucli as donned in ciali/n Ii wherein. a perforated abutment is positioned iii said conduit and extends across the same and one end of `the spring, said spring compressing means including a plate at the opposite end of said spring, and said perforated abutment and plate constituting means clamping said core to the spring .at its ends so that the core must expand and contract; as said spring is compressed orpermitted to expand in the operation of said spring for varying the compactness of the core.

5. An expansibleand contractible core for Illtering andA controlling the flow of fuel to a gaseous fuel burner or the like, said core composed of a plurality of elongated individual threads of fibre glass disposed in substantial parallelism with one another and being in combination with a resilient member, said core completely enclosing,7 and covering said resilient member, and means clamping said core to said resilient member and operable to compress the resilient member, whereby the core is contractable and expansible with said resilient member for varying the compactness of said core.

6. An expansible and contractable core for illtering and controlling the ow of fuel to a gaseous fuel burner or the like, said core composed of a plurality of elongated individual threads of fibre glass disposed in substantial parallelism with one another and being in combination with a resilient member, said resilient member being in the form of a coil spring, said core extending' through and completely filling said coil spring and extending lengthwise of and completely covering the exterior of said spring, said core being continuous as to length and being disposed intermediate its ends so as to close and cover the ends of said spring, and the threads making up said core contracting and stretching as said resilient spring is compressed or extended.

7. A construction such as donned in claim 6 wherein, means is provided for clamping the fibres making up said core against the opposite ends of said spring.

8. For use in a fuel delivery conduit to a gaseous fuel burner i111' illteiirig and coiitirilliiig the` il-fiw of luil thi-ouali said conduit, :i toiiibiiicd iuel filter and incl flow controller cnirpisiiig it eoinpiesslbio coro positiiflncd in said conduit and at one point there il extending completely across said conduit, said core composed of a coil spring and a mass of fibrous material of a resilieni; nature. said coil spring loosely fitting within said conduit and said fibrous material completely filling the interior of said spring and covering the exterior thereof, said mass of hbz-ous material being permeable and composed oi a plurality of comparatively long individual threads nermally disposed in parallelism with one another, and that DGrti'on of the mass within the spring extending from end to end tlieieol with all of the threads thereof extending longitudinally if the spring and conduit, and means operable from a point exterior of the conduit for compressing said spring and said mass for varying llie conipactiiess oi" the mass.

JOHN G. KOSKY. ALMER H. BRODBECK. EDWIN H. KAHLER. 

